The Congress fired a return volley — general secretary Digvijaya Singh leading the charge — to defend Rahul Gandhi against Team Anna’s intensifying attack.

The Congress fired a return volley — general secretary Digvijaya Singh leading the charge — to defend Rahul Gandhi against Team Anna’s intensifying attack.

Several ministers, leaders and chief ministers came out against Hazare’s comment that he “strongly suspected” Gandhi of weakening the lokpal draft. Singh said, “Rahul Gandhi … himself is pressing for a stronger lokpal bill, so there is no point attacking him again and again.”

The last time the Congress attacked Hazare was a no-holds-barred ambush by spokesman Manish Tewari on August 14. Tewari, however, had to apologise later.